JAR BAR has replaced the rug and art gallery, and it’s your one stop-shop for all things “juicy and raw” (hence JAR, get it?).  We knew awhile back that Jennifer VanHeeswyk Richmond and Joel Odhner would be bringing their Catalyst Cleanse to Midtown Village, and with their passion for rich, raw foods, the duo’s concept has evolved into a whole menu that excludes gluten, dairy, and high-fructose corn syrup.

Interior shot of JAR BAR

So what is raw food exactly? This category is comprised of healthy, nutrient rich foods that are never cooked over 115 degrees, allowing them to maintain the vital enzymes to promote an overall healthy body in your everyday life.  Besides the juice cleanse, the JAR BAR menu includes treats like Elixirs (these are similar to smoothies), raw foods such as salads, soups, desserts, raw sweet potato pasta, kale chips and more.  So, if you’re looking to live the “raw” lifestyle, it seems that JAR BAR would be the perfect stop; especially right before bikini season.

Next door, in the former T-Bar space, is Kitchenette, a new kitchenwares boutique. Kitchenette is a Philadelphia original, which was started in 2007 by Black Tie Formalwear/Tips Uniforms owner Bob Smith, right underneath the Black Tie Formalwear store.  The original location was a bit difficult to find at it’s below street level.  Luckily, business was booming and Kitchenette was able to expand into this new location, positioning itself at a prime location in Philadelphia’s Midtown Village.  Inside Kitchenette you’ll find fun, funky gadgets that suite anyone looking to spruce up their cooking space with a little color and functionality.

Inside Kitchenette

Hopefully, these two new businesses will have a long run of success at this high-potential corner. And with Hotel Indigo potentially in the works just down Sansom Street, they could have a plethora of new customers on the horizon.

–Kaitlin Bostwick